Jean-Pierre Thiesset rounds up the second leg from the French teams competing in the last 32 of UEFA Women’s Champions League.
OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS 3-0 JUVENTUS
Olympique Lyonnais win 6-2 on aggregate.
Above: Melvine Malard celebrates her goal to seal Olympique Lyonnais’ progress into the last sixteen of the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Photo: Damien LG via @OLFeminin.
Before the game started, there was a tribute to Gérard Houiller who was part of the staff of Olympique Lyonnais since 2016. All our deep condolences go to his family.
Lyon won against Juventus (3-0) at home, finishing the job and qualifying for the next round. After a first quarter, things were a little bit difficult and Lyon had a few problems keeping the ball.
It was a combination of a bad clearance by the Juventus goalkeeper and a defender which allowed Dzsenifer Marozsan to open the scoring after 21 minutes.
After this goal, Lyon took the game to Juventus and dominated without being able to score more goals. At half time Lyon lead 1-0. Despite Lyon domination, we had to wait until the 88th minute for Melvine Malard to score the second goal after an unstoppable “one-two” with Marozsan. Janice Cayman entered in the game on the 72nd minute finished the job by scoring at 90+1 on a pass from Marozsan who was elected woman of the match. Jodie Taylor entered at the end of the game for her last match with Lyon; she goes back to USA as her contract with the club finishes on December 31st, 2020.
A special focus on Selma Bacha who played 92 minutes (she had played only 15 minutes at the end of the game in the first leg) and who did a pretty good game as a left back – 50 balls played: 37 passes (81% successful), 1 cross, 12 balls recovery; no errors.
Highlights of the game:
2nd: Yellow card for Saki Kumagai (Lyon)
12nd: Yellow card for Amandine Henry (Lyon)
21st: 1 – 0, Dzsenifer Marozsan (Lyon)
46th: Barbara Bonansea (Juventus) replaced Cristiana Girelli
90th+2: Jodie Taylor (Lyon) replaced Dzsenifer Marozsan
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN 6-1GORNIK LECZNA
Paris St. Germain win 8-1 on aggregate.
Above: Nadia Nadim celebrates after scoring PSG’s first goal this afternoonagainst Gornik Leczna. Photo: @PSGFeminines.
Paris St. Germain won easily at home against Gornik Leczna 6-1 to finish the job and qualify for the next round. By scoring three goals in the first 30 minutes, there was not a lot of suspense to guess which team would qualify at the end. At half time it was already 4-0 and according to how Paris St Germain dominated the game and the number of opportunities they add, it is a miracle that they did not score even more goals.
Jean-Pierre Thiesset rounds up all the action from the eleventh week of action in D1 Arkema, the top flight of French women’s football.
Olympique Lyonnais raised their heads and won 9–0 against a very weak Issy side. At half time they were already seven goals ahead and the second half was a little bit less interesting. The scorers were: Amel Majri (9, 42, 52), Nikita Parris (15, 18, 21, 41), Janice Cayman (30) and Delphine Cascarino (72).
Above: Selma Bacha on the charge for Olympique Lyonnais in their 9-0 win over Issy. Photo: Damien LG via @OLFeminin
To prepare for their next game, the second leg of the UEFA Women’s Champions League last thirty-two tie against Juventus, several players were rested: Wendie Renard and Sakina Karchaoui (left out of the squad); Dzsenifer Marozsan (replaced by Melvine Malard 46), Ellie Carpenter (replaced by Delphine Cascarino 46) played only one half; Nikita Parris was replaced by Jodie Taylor (67).
In the battle for the third place, qualifying for UEFA Women’s Champions League, Bordeaux got ahead of the game by winning 2–0 (Khadija Shaw 8 and Katja Snoeijs 51) against their main challenger Montpellier. Bordeaux are now four points ahead of Montpellier; it is not finished but I think it will be difficult for Montpellier to take back third place.
Dijon were close to causing a big surprise at Paris FC but at the end they lost 3–2. Goals from Evelyne Viens (4, 56) and Clara Matéo (16) for Paris FC; Goals from Léa Khelifi (28) and Mylaine Tarrieu (80) for Dijon.
Fleury and Soyaux-Charente were not able to do better than a 0–0 draw and Guingamp won away from home at Reims 1–0 with a goal from Magou Doucouré (60).
Paris St Germain kept top spot by completely dominating the match and winning at home 5–0 against Le Havre, the bottom placed team in D1 Arkema. Goals from Marie-Antoinette Katoto (6, 33, 37, 67), Grace Geroyo (62).
Above: Marie-Antoinette Katoto celebrates one of her four goals for PSG against Le Havre which takes her to 103 goals for the club at the age of just 22. Photo: @PSG_Feminines.
Marie-Antoinette Katoto went over the 100 goal mark with Paris St Germain and is now at 103 goals; at only 22 years old, she was born on November 1st, 1998, it is quite a performance.
Later this week, Olympique Lyonnais, on Tuesday the 15th at 7:00 PM, and Paris St Germain, on Wednesday 16th at 2:30 PM, will play at home in UEFA Women’s Champions League last 32 second leg. There should be no surprises, and both teams should qualify.
Honours were even in the battle between the second and third placed sides in the London & South-East Regional Women’s Football League Division One North (tier six).
Played on a typically dank and drizzly December afternoon at Gander Green Lane, the two teams played out a fascinating game that at times resembled a chess match and at others was an end to end drama of the most epic nature.
Sutton United began the game calmly, looking to establish their patient probing passing game on the opposition. An early example of this saw a carefully weighted ball through from Olivia Watson towards Fern Colepio which won a throw in down the left on the edge of 18 yard box.
With six minutes gone, the home side won a free kick just outside of the box on the right hand side. Jenifer Neves played the ball in which was met by the head of Mika Keen, but Emily Jones gathered in the Clapham United goal.
Sutton threatened again as Keen played in Emma King, with the move ending with the latter’s long range shot landing on the top of the net.
As the early exchanges wore on, it was more apparent that Sutton’s patient approach work was the more successful as Clapham’s attacks were restricted to occasional long balls down their left hand side. One such move ended with an outstanding tackle by Colepio on Clapham’s Florrie Maxwell.
Just after the quarter hour mark, Evie Nebbitt was dispossessed by Molly Yoemann thirty yards out. The Clapham substitute ran on but her shot lacked power and was comfortably held by Paige Hersey in the Sutton goal.
The visitors threatened again shortly afterwards when Asia Harbour Brown got in a shot which was put out for a corner. Sutton comfortably dealt with the danger.
Sutton responded after 23 minutes when, following a throw on the right, Mika Keen found Fern Colepio who hit a powerful effort wide from just outside of the box.
By now the game was developing into an end to end encounter. It was the turn of the visitors to fashion an opportunity. It came when Lauren Robinson played a slide rule pass in to Letitia Campous-Lennon, but Hersey saved well. On the half hour mark Clapham came close once more as Serena Guardino’s free kick from the right hand edge of the box went narrowly over the bar.
With thirty-four minutes gone, a superb move from the hosts almost led to a spectacular goal. Captain Darcy Wells put in a superb tackle in the centre of midfield and played in Sophie Hendy who returned the favour with Wells hitting a great effort that narrowly went over the bar.
From the resulting goal kick, Clapham earned a chance but Hersey dealt with Phoebe Dennis’ effort from the edge of the box. Seven minutes from the break, Dennis did have the ball in the net after being played in by Maxwell, but the assistant referee’s flag went up somewhat belatedly, but correctly.
With four minutes of the half remaining, Sutton United’s Olivia Watson put a header wide after promising build-up play by Hendy and Keen.
Above: Clapham United’s Sally Cheeseman (18) has a header blocked by Sutton United’s Tamara Graham. Photo: Ben Gilby.
Despite Clapham having as many opportunities as the home side as the first half wore on, one was always left with the feeling that Sutton had the greater quality in their locker in terms of build-up play and skill in the squad.
However, what was also apparent as the second half opened was the growing importance of the first goal.
Sutton started the second half on the front foot and Darcy Wells was in the thick of the action again as the home captain hit a shot against the right hand post.
Shortly afterwards, a delightful ball from Hayley Halford down the right played in fellow substitute Gabby Howell whose effort forced a corner, which was eventually cleared at the second attempt by the visitors defence.
Clapham substitute Natalie Kennedy had two excellent chances within sixty seconds of each other, proving that her side were still well in the game. First, a promising build up resulted in her volley on the turn which went wide. Moments later she was one on one with Paige Hersey, but the home keeper blocked the effort.
On the hour mark Emily Jones was called into action to deny the hosts. Sophie Hendy’s run down the left found substitute Keisha Small. Her cross was not dealt with by a hesitant Clapham defence which allowed Halford to get in a shot which was deflected out by the keeper for a corner.
The home side continued to press and a great piece of combination play between Small and Evie Nebbitt forced a corner which was eventually cleared.
As the persistent drizzle got heavier, Sutton’s pressure grew. Hendy played in a teasing ball which Jones did well to get to first in the Clapham goal.
Yet, despite this, the game remained goalless. That is, until the sixty-eighth minute.
Clapham were awarded a free-kick centrally, just outside of the ‘D’ when Sally Cheeseman was brought down by Gabby Howell. Up stepped Serena Guardino whose effort went round the wall and couldn’t be stopped by Hersey before it crossed the line.
With a quarter of an hour left, the visitors gained another free kick outside the box after Keisha Small fouled Cheeseman on the right, outside the box. This time the set piece curled wide of the left hand post.
Sutton created a much needed opportunity when the ball fell to Tamara Graham outside the area, but her powerful long range effort went over. Shortly afterwards, Cindy Colliver played in Darcy Wells, but Jones managed to reach the ball first before Wells could get a shot away.
As the game entered the final ten minutes there were two opportunities for the hosts. First, Olivia Watson couldn’t quite get on the end of a floated ball through and the ever impressive Wells had an effort which was just over.
With eight minutes left, Fern Colepio combined with Darcy Wells who was fouled. The resulting free-kick curled towards the far left corner but Emily Jones made a good save.
In the eighty-fifth minute, there was another chance for the hosts as Gabby Howell played in Hendy. Her great cross from the right curled towards the left hand post just needed the slightest of touches to go in, but Olivia Watson couldn’t quite get there in time.
Above: Emma King in midfield action for Sutton United against Clapham United. Photo: Ben Gilby.
But both Sutton and Watson had better luck just sixty seconds later when a teasing cross from the right by Howell saw the midfielder slide in at the far post to grab the equaliser – her first goal for the club in only her fourth start.
Sutton were desperately unlucky not to win it at the start of stoppage time when Watson was fouled on the left and the resulting free kick was put behind for a corner with a minute left. A beautifully curling flag kick was met by the head of Keisha Small, but her effort was just centimetres wide.
The final exchanges were frantic amid huge vocal support from the Sutton United fans. The action was played out entirely in the Clapham half, but try as they might, and with Wells, Small and Watson particularly prominent, the home side couldn’t quite get the winner.
What Phil Neville Has Done Right As England Head Coach.
We are delighted to welcome back Daisy Wildsmith to Impetus. In the first of her regular Opinion Pieces, she highlights the areas where, for her, Phil Neville has been a success as Lionesses head coach.
Mention the name Phil Neville to any fan of the women’s game, and you will generally be met with cynical groans and expressions of excited anticipation for the arrival of his successor, Sarina Wiegman. Fans can be frequently seen on social media, expressing the belief that Wiegman will change “everything” Neville has done as manager. Below is why I hope that is not the case as I detail ten things I think Phil Neville has done right as England women manager.
Above: Lionesses head coach Phil Neville. Photo: Wikipedia
Our performance in the 2019 World Cup.
When we lost to the U.S.A in the semi final and ultimately went on to come fourth in the tournament overall, people took this as a sign of regression from the Lionesses under Neville’s leadership. But this was unfair. Our route to a semi-final in 2019 was very different to our path to a semi-final in 2015.
We had an excellent start to the tournament, with impressive victories over Scotland and Japan. However, that win over Japan would determine that we would have a difficult path to the final and would meet world champions America at the semi-final stage. If we had conceded to Japan we would have still progressed and had Japan’s trajectory. Strategically losing to Japan in the group stage would have meant that we faced the eventual tournament champions U.S.A in the final instead of the semi-final. But strategically losing was not something the 2019 squad would comprehend. While we shouldn’t have to rely on luck of the draw to progress, the fact we faced the world champions in the semis (which we didn’t do in the previous World Cup) should not go unmentioned. Arguably, the 2019 squad could have beaten every other team in Japan’s trajectory and would have progressed to the final. The extra belief that progression would have given the team could have even given them the confidence to go on and win the World Cup.
When facing the U.S.A in that semi final, while everything was on the line, their progression and their pride, those players still stepped up under enormous pressure (including the biggest television audience recorded in Britain for a women’s game at 11.2 million viewers) and gave the U.S.A a bitter fight to the end.
It’s also important not to forget, that FIFA trialed the use of VAR in the women’s World Cup. Were it not for the insanely pedantic decision that a player’s big toe was offside, we could very well have beaten America.
After their defeat, the squad went on to lose their bronze medal match. Once their World Cup dreams were dashed, it was clear that the squad checked out mentally. Neville’s predecessor Sampson was very good at building his players up psychologically but he also had the advantage of taking new territory with the Lionesses. They’d never won bronze in a World Cup before. It was great motivation to succeed in the bronze medal match.
What we have under Neville is a squad who push themselves. Who wanted first place and nothing else was good enough. They did not want to go home from the 2019 World Cup with a bronze medal and that showed in their performance on the pitch in that bronze medal match. It was an almost palpable disenchantment from the players that would follow them home and hinder their endeavours in their international friendlies played in the World Cup aftermath.
The Lionesses did not regress under Neville, rather, they went toe to toe with the world champions and made them panic (mind games pre-match anyone) and fight, hard, for their win. This brings me on to point two. What Neville did right to get us there.
2. England won the She Believes Cup for the first time.
After some initial skepticism over his appointment to England women manager in January 2018, the Lionesses went on to win the She Believes Cup for the first time ever in March of that year under his management. An explosive debut for a new coach for whom it had previously been debated in the media, may not known enough about the women’s game to be successful in the post.
Above: England with the She Believes Cup in 2019. Photo: @LucyBronze
3. Raised the profile of the women’s game.
When Neville took over as Lionesses manager, his presence immediately drew new eyes to the women’s game. In October 2018, Fara Williams earned her 170th cap for England making her the most capped England player of any gender, of all time. The BBC broadcast the game on the radio. From January 2019, all Lionesses games were to be broadcast on BBC television. Fans would never have to listen to an England Women match again. It was a move that paid off. As previously mentioned, under Phil’s management, the ratings for Lionesses games both in friendlies and in tournaments, soared to record highs. His famous friends attending games no doubt adding to the appeal for viewers.
4. Guided team through times of tumultuous change.
From the sudden departure of Mark Sampson to the global shut down of all football due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Phil Neville has guided his players through challenging times of change and uncertainty and he’s done it in a way that makes his players feel valued and supported. “If they have an ice cream, I know about it!” – Neville once declared to an interviewer. The players themselves noting how invested Neville is in their welfare as players and how interested he is in them as people. This level of pastoral care can boost player morale and also serve to strengthen a coach’s knowledge of his squad.
5. Uses depth of squad to hinder opposition analysis.
While Neville received criticism for his frequent rotation of players, it was this very tactic that proved a strength for England in the World Cup. It’s very difficult to analyse and strategise for a game against your opponent when you can never be certain which players will be opposite your team on the pitch that day. Neville took a squad to France that had such depth, he could rotate players for most positions.
6. Moved players to new playing positions with good effect.
There was uproar from the women’s football community when Neville played Lucy Bronze from right back to a midfield position. His reasoning for this was clear. Bronze rarely stays in her team’s third. She makes play all over the pitch and links up superbly with forward Nikita Parris down the right hand side. Bronze was moved back to the position she has become famous for, but that has not hindered her link up play with Parris.
Another move was Ellen White to front of goal. A move White herself said she was skeptical of at first in a 2020 interview. However, White acknowledged the move was the right decision and this is evident in the number of goals she scored for England in the 2019 World Cup. It’s also a move mirrored by club Manchester City where she continues to play in the new position.
Above: Ellen White, pictured scoring against Japan in the 2019 World Cup, is a player transformed positionally by Neville. Photo: @ellsbells89.
7. Has found a way to utilise automatic qualification to motivate players.
Automatic qualification to the 2022 Euros could have proven problematic for Neville. How do you motivate a group of players who are reeling after a semi-final defeat and who don’t need to beat competition to secure their place in the next tournament? By using the luxury of automatic qualification to experiment with the squad. Phil continues to bring in young, promising players to England training camps which has re-motivated older players, increasing productivity and performance through competition for places.
8 . Took a pay cut along with his counterpart.
It is worth noting that in the midst of the economic fallout of the first lockdown, Neville joined his counterpart from the men’s team, Gareth Southgate, in taking what was reported to be a significant pay cut to benefit those lower down the organisation. An incredibly admirable gesture that would have no doubt kept people in their jobs.
9. The time he helped an opposition player with leg cramp mid game.
Who can forget the time Neville casually placed a had on the sole of an opposition player’s shoe to help them to stretch out a calf cramp mid game. The referee while find it amusing, told him he had to stop and called the player’s medical team over to assist. When asked later about the incident in an interview, Neville stated he had experienced calf cramp himself during his playing career and could not stand by while another player experienced that some agonising pain.
10. The proof is in the progress.
A clear indicator that Phil Neville has been doing something right is if we think of where the game was five years ago, and compare that to where it is now. Increased visibility has led to greater investment and increased sponsorship. This has led to an increase in the quality of play on display, which has in turn, led to further visibility and investment.
I hope team GB win a gold medal in the upcoming Olympics, both for themselves, for all those who’ve supported them along the way when people questioned if women should even be playing football, for Britain and for Phil Neville as a lasting legacy of his impactful time as manager.
Jean-Pierre Thiesset rounds up the midweek action from the French teams competing in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
JUVENTUS v OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS:
Lyon won away from home against Juventus (3-2) despite not being completely convincing. Juventus posed some problems to Lyon and led twice in the game (1 -0 then 2-1 at half time). Lyon came back towards the end of the match when Melvine Malard (a goal after 68 minutes and an assist on 88), Amandine Henry and Janice Cayman entered in the game on the 57th minute mark. After these replacements, fatigue looked to have impacted on the Juventus’ players and the Italian side started to be less dangerous and had more and more difficulties containing Lyon attacks. Selma Bacha made a big impact on the game after her entrance in the last quarter and Melvine Malard was elected player of the match.
Still, Lyon were far from their best in this game against a team who are only three years old. Is it the end of a cycle for Lyon after losing against Paris St. Germain and winning without panache against Juventus in the UEFA Women’s Champions League last thirty-two? The return game and the other rounds will tell us!
Above: Delphine Cascarino (left) in action for Olympique Lyonnais in Turin against Juventus in Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League Last 32 1st Leg. Photo: Damien LG via @OLFeminin.
68th: 2 – 2, Melvine Malard (Lyon); first goal in UEFA Women’s Champions League
74th: Maria Alves (Juventus) replaced Barbara Bonansea
77th: Selma Bacha (Lyon) replaced Amel Majri
84th: Martina Rosucci (Juventus) replaced Lina Hurtig
87th: Jodie Taylor (Lyon) replaced Sakina Karchaoui
88th: 2 – 3, Saki Kumagai (Lyon); first assist of Melvine Malard in UWCL
GORNIK LECZNA v PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN:
Paris St. Germain won away from home against Gornik Leczna 2-0 in Poland. By scoring early in the game, just after the first quarter, PSG made the match easier. At half time, things were already looking pretty good for PSG with a 2-0 lead. In the first quarter of the second half, PSG had more opportunities to score (Jordyn Huitema 55, Sandy Baltimore 58 hit the post) but they were not able to add more goals to their total.
Above: Paris St. Germain’s Sandy Baltimore (right) gets away from Gornik Leczna’s Alicja Dygus in Wednesday’s UEFA Women’s Champions League tie. Photo: @PSG_Feminines.
Highlights of the game:
17th: 0 – 1, Jordyn Huitema (Paris)
25th: 0 – 2, Sandy Baltimore (Paris)
35th: Perle Moroni (Paris) out on injury; replaced by Jade Le Guilly (18 years old)
Ben Gilby spoke to Brentford Women‘s Amy Crook about the development of women’s football at the West London club.
Brentford Women’s FC celebrates thirty years this year after being formed in July 1990 when Roger Crook founded the club in response to his daughter Amy’s passion for the game. They were then based at Feltham Arena in Hounslow. The pair are still an integral part of the club today.
Above: Going for goal – Brentford Women. Photo: Sophie Boycott.
The club started out as an Under 14 team playing in friendly matches, before entering the Greater London Women’s League in the 1991/92 season. Their division comprised just four teams with Arsenal, Wimbledon and Walton & Hersham. By 1995/96 the group were eligible to play senior age football and so the club made the move to the Greater London Women’s Football League.
1995 saw interest in the female game increase enormously with the upcoming European Championships in 1996, and it was a time of progression as Brentford merged with a team from Smithkline Beecham to become Brentford Beechams.
By 2003/04, Brentford were competing in the Greater London Women’s League Premier Division. Two years later, the Bees merged with Viking Ladies and expanded to six teams: Ladies First and Reserves plus ages U15, U13 and U11A and B. In the early part of the 2010s the first team made the jump to the London & South-East Women’s League.
Above: The Bees in action against Dulwich Hamlet Development. Photo: Sophie Boycott.
Since 2014 there have been both ups and downs. The team are now playing in the Greater London Women’s Football League Premier (tier seven) and currently consist of a First Team and a Development Team, comprising players aged 16 and over with a total of forty-seven players across the two teams.
The club is still run by Roger Crook and daughter Amy, who now works for Brentford FC and is in charge of their two women’s teams. Amy Crook also highlights the fact that we have “a team of committed and qualified coaches headed up by Brentford legend Karleigh Osborne.” Talking about the potential of the side, Amy tells us that she believes “we are capable of playing at FA Women’s National League level.”
The women’s teams are supported by the men’s team and have played several home games at the Griffin Park stadium prior to the club leaving their famous old home this summer. “Brentford have also recently employed me to run both women’s teams and match day activities. There will also be opportunities to play a home game or two in the new Community Stadium, a 17,500 all seater arena once the pandemic is over and fans are allowed back into stadiums.”
In terms of the challenges that the club face, Amy recognises: “There is a lot of competition for players in West London. But the ones we do attract stay with us – one has been with us for twenty years now. In terms of the coronavirus situation, training has been difficult as Swift Road, where we usually train, has been closed.”
Above: Dramatic action from a Brentford Women’s game earlier this season. Photo: Sophie Boycott.
The short-term aim for the coming season is at least promotion for both teams, and there is a genuine feeling that this is realistic and achievable. Amy believes that the key to this success is: “Treating all players well at whatever level of talent – allow them to develop organically or allow them to move on and develop. It’s also important to have a real honest, open and trustworthy respect for all players, staff and volunteers.” In terms of the future of the women’s game, Amy believes that whilst coverage is increasing at the top levels, it is not filtering down to the lower levels: “It’s very slow at grassroots level. We hope that with the professional men’s team behind us, we can attract more talent to push us towards the FA Women’s National League. Money needs to be invested and there needs to be more coverage for clubs at our level and lower to progress.”
Jean-Pierre Thiesset brings us all the news from the 2020 International Federation of Football History and Statistucs (IFFHS) Awards for the women’s game.
The International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) – recently published the winners of their 2020 Awards. Olympique Lyonnais were the big winners, with four of their squad names as one of the World’s Best players and a total of seven players in the Women’s World Team of the year for 2020.
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS:
World’s Best Goalkeeper: SARAH BOUHADDI (FRANCE/OLYMPIQUE LYON)
World’s Best Playmaker: DZSENIFER MAROZSAN (GERMANY/OLYMPIQUE LYON)
World’s Best Club: OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS (FRANCE)
World’s Best League: FA WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE (ENGLAND)
World’s Best Club Coach: JEAN LUC VASSEUR (OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS)
World’s Best National Coach: SARINA WIEGMAN (NETHERLANDS)
World’s Best Referee: STEPHANIE FRAPPART (FRANCE)
THE WOMEN’S WORLD TEAM OF THE YEAR 2020
Goalkeeper: SARAH BOUHADDI (FRANCE/OLYMPIQUE LYON)
Jean-Pierre Thiesset rounds up all the action for the tenth week of matches in France’s D1 Arkema.
There were no great surprises in the tenth round of D1 Arkema matches, and no change in the standings.
Olympique Lyonnais won 3-1 at Le Havre but without reassuring their supporters. They scored three goals in the first eighteen minutes through Wendie Renard, Saki Kumagai and Amel Majri, but were not able to score again in the second half. Le Havre scored in the first half too due to a bad clearance by the Lyon defence and Sylia Koui scored. Ellie Carpenter, who was one of the players that did the job for Lyon as usual, was elected player of the game.
Above: Matildas star Ellie Carpenter was in fine form for Olympique Lyonnais on Saturday. Photo: @CarpenterEllie
Paris St. Germain won also, this time against city rivals Paris FC 4-1, keeping their first place in the table, a point ahead of Lyon. An own goal from Annaig Butel plus strikes from Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Sandy Baltimore and former Chelsea star Ramona Bachmann were the difference. Evelyne Viens got one back for Paris FC.
Elsewhere, Montpellier beat Issy 3-1 with goals from Dominika Skorvankova, Marija Banusic and Lena Petermann. Batcheba Louis scored for Issy. Bordeaux came from behind to see off Soyaux 2-1. Coralie Austry gave Soyaux a shock lead just before half time, but two goals from Khadija Shaw gave Bordeaux the points. Fleury won 1-0 at Guingamp thanks to Lea Le Garrec, formerly of Brighton & Hove Albion. Finally, Dijon drew 0-0 with Reims.
Next week Lyon and Paris SG will play away from their home in their UEFA Women’s Champion League Round of 32 ties. Lyon against Juventus in Turin, Italy. Paris St. Germain against Gornik Leczna in Leczna, Poland.
This weekend, at long last, fans were allowed back in limited numbers to the FA Women’s Super League. Ben Gilby was one of the lucky seven hundred supporters at Kingsmeadow for Chelsea’s game with West Ham United.
Watching a game in the FA Women’s Super League is a very different experience indeed – but whilst forward planning and patience are the watchwords, the rewards are oh so wonderful!
The process of attending Chelsea v West Ham United began on Monday afternoon when seven hundred tickets went on sale through Chelsea FC’s website, and being held in a “virtual waiting room” for what seemed an eternity the magic happened and ticket purchased.
Additionally, everyone attending was required to fill in a Coronavirus questionnaire ahead of the game and you would only be allowed entry to the stadium if you could fill it in, send it back and print off a reply telling you that you were cleared to attend the game medically. Coronavirus questionnaires came through early on Sunday morning which meant setting the alarm for an ungodly hour to fill it in online and there was then a short wait before the most awaited email that I have had in 2020 arrived at around 7:30am. I was officially in.
Whilst no-one is able to use their passports to go on holiday right now, if you’ve missed brandishing it this year, fear not, because you need it to get into Kingsmeadow. So, let’s see – Ticket printed out? Check! Covid questionnaire proof of health printed? Check! Passport? Check! Great – off to Kingsmeadow we go.
Above: Got your paperwork? Good! Now you can leave for the match! Photo: Ben Gilby
Leaving the house feeling as bouncy as a kid on Christmas morning, I made the short trip to Kingsmeadow feeling more excited than I can ever remember being for a football match in all my forty-one years on this planet. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. Then, this view, which I had started to think I would never see again:
Above: Passing through the gates for the first time since February. Photo: Ben Gilby
Taking my place in the stadium an hour and a half before kick-off was a chance to catch up with familiar faces again after all those months hidden away, and embark on another pre-match ritual. It’s well known that Sam Kerr is my women’s football hero. The Western Australian branch of my own family live just 20 minutes up the road from where Sam was brought up in East Fremantle, so every game at Kingsmeadow since her arrival has seen me unfurl and tie up an Aussie flag on the barrier – today, the Matildas Active Support flag – representing the supporters club for Australian women’s football. It’s an honour to represent them at FAWSL games this season.
The first sighting of the players to come out and warm up was met by huge cheers. The first songs started up and it was quite emotional to see Guro Reiten joining in with some of the chants too once they started!
The Chelsea line-up included Beth England, Sam Kerr, Pernille Harder and Fran Kirby from the start for the first time and the movement and connection between the four was quite magnificent all afternoon long.
West Ham, with Billy Stewart taking over the reins after Matt Beard’s departure started well, but the front four of Chelsea made the difference. Fran Kirby pulled in a low cross on the quarter hour mark and Kerr steered the ball home.
Above: West Ham’s Rachel Daly fires in a cross despite the attention of Maria Thorisdottir. Photo: Ben Gilby.
Almost immediately afterwards, the Hammers could have levelled. Maren Mjelde’s pass was gobbled up by Rachel Daly who bore down on goal to reach a one on one with Ann-Katrin Berger, but the German shot stopper stood up well to the effort and saved the day.
Chelsea possibly should have had a second, but West Ham United’s Australian international Mackenzie Arnold made fantastic saves from Ji and Melanie Leupolz.
Above: West Ham’s Australian goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold made some spectacular saves. Photo: Ben Gilby.
If any of the gathered supporters felt that a run away second half would transpire, they were put right just two minutes after the re-start when Daly swept home following a less than impressive interlude in the Chelsea defence.
Any hope West Ham had was ultimately snuffed out by Fran Kirby who was in outstanding form down the left and it was her probing and great deliveries that sparked Chelsea’s attacking prowess throughout the half.
Above: Fran Kirby was back to her imperious best. Photo: Ben Gilby
Kirby’s creativity was also added to by Pernille Harder and it was the Danish superstar that played in a cross that Mackenzie Arnold could only push into the path of Sam Kerr to smash home her second.
Above: Pernille Harder’s cross was eventually turned in by Sam Kerr for the Australian’s second of the afternoon. Photo: Ben Gilby.
It was Kirby who produced the cross for Chelsea’s third when Kerr completed her first hat-trick in English football, injuring her hip, most likely in a collision with West Ham’s Cecilie Redisch in the process of scoring. Erin Cuthbert replaced Kerr as a result, with the Scot coming on to produce another outstanding Scottish Terrier like performance.
Above: Sam Kerr, who left the field with a hip injury after scoring her hat-trick clinching goal. Photo: Ben Gilby.
Chelsea were comfortable at 3-1 – possibly too comfortable – and another worrying defensive lapse ended with Magda Eriksson deflecting Emily van Egmond’s effort into her own net.
The home side deserved their win and were hugely impressive coming forward at times, but concerns remain about the defence when Millie Bright and Magda Eriksson are not playing together in the starting line up.
Above: Erin Cuthbert produced a very impressive cameo after coming on as a substitute. Photo: Ben Gilby
As part of the exciting re-design of Impetus, Ben Gilby spoke to Chelsea and Sweden star Jonna Andersson who has played in the World Cup, Olympic Games and UEFA Women’s Champions League in a fantastic career.
Jonna was born and brought up in the city of Mjölby, south-east Sweden and her family played an integral part in her interest in football: “They have always loved football and played football so I think it was an easy choice for me. I started when I was a young age with my big brother in the garden and then I decided to go to a training session and started play for Mjölby AI/FF when I was around 7 years old.”
“My family played an integral part in my development as a footballer. They have always supported me. My dad played football on a quite high level as well so he always wanted to help me get better and better. Then of course all the coaches I have had as well but I still think the support and help from family makes it a lot easier.”
At the age of sixteen, she went to play for Linköping – which was a big step for the young Jonna: “I came as a young player to Linköping, who at that point had a very good and professional squad with so many high quality players. So it was a lot to take in and to learn as a 16 year old girl playing with these amazing players. It was a huge step going from my old club, higher quality, higher tempo, harder sessions and tougher. But I’m glad that I stayed eight years in the club because I feel that I could grow as a player and as a person. I gave myself the time I needed to grow and to develop as a player and with the high level from day one it was the right place for me to be to be a better football player.”
During Andersson’s eight years at the club, they won the Damallsvenskan (top flight of women’s football in Sweden) and the Swedish Cup several times before she made the move to England.
Jonna emphasised the big step up she experienced with her move to the FAWSL as, despite the Damallsvenskan producing many hugely talented young players, it is not as strong as it was in the past in terms of success in European club football: “The biggest difference between the two leagues, I would say, is the quality in general both in training and games. I think the FAWSL is a higher tempo, better quality and harder in general. And to have that every day in training and in most of the games in the league you have a perfect opportunity to get better and develop.”
Above: Jonna Andersson in action for Linköping in 2014. Photo: Wikipedia
Andersson highlighted that for the women’s club game in Sweden to attempt to move back towards its previous strength, some of the big men’s sides such as Malmö, Djurgården and AIK could consider doing more to support their women’s teams: “Of course I think it would help to work together with men’s teams. To build and to be even better and progress even further in the Champions League as well you need to have the money. It’s not just for one season, you need to build for a longer term as well and for that you need the money. I’m not saying that it’s the answer but it would be interesting to see for the future if the men’s teams decided to work together and support the women’s team more.”
Jonna has experienced some incredible moments playing for the Swedish national team, starting in 2012 in the U19 European Championship: “That tournament was amazing! To be with the U19 national team and to win Euro 2012 was unbelievable. A big tournament and an experience in that age was fantastic, and to end the tournament with a gold medal too!”
Four years later came another incredible experience – being picked to represent Sweden at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio where Andersson and her team won the silver medal: “That was very cool. Just to be in a village with all the athletes – it doesn’t matter what sport they were from, it was huge and an amazing feeling. I didn’t play that much during that tournament but I’m very happy and proud that I was a part of the Olympic squad for 2016. The atmosphere in the stadiums was incredible, and to be there with all the audience at these huge stadiums were something I never will forget. And to be a part of this tournament and to end with a silver medal, that’s an amazing achievement from the team.”
Above: Jonna Andersson in action for Sweden. Photo: Mia Eriksson.
Further international success followed three years later at the 2019 World Cup in France. The Swedes had a fantastic tournament which saw them clinch third place. It was a month or so that created more amazing memories for Jonna: “I enjoyed it very much. To play a World Cup is very, very big and I will always remember it. To be with our amazing team and squad, to work hard together every day, to perform in all games and the togetherness we had all tournament that in the end gave us a bronze medal. I’m very proud that I was a part of the World Cup squad and I think the togetherness was a key and reason for why we could succeed.
Andersson is about to celebrate three years playing for Chelsea and in that period of time, standards have gone up and up each season: “I think it was a very high standard with everything already when I came but of course you can see during these three years that things are getting even better. And you know when you are in Chelsea that this club want to win everything – all the titles and that’s fantastic to be a part of this journey. You can see how much Chelsea are pushing this season trying to win everything, we have a quality squad with amazing signings and things that’s happening on and off the pitch that are hopefully going to make us be able to go all the way and fight for all the titles.”
Jonna is clear that the key to Chelsea’s success is Emma Hayes: “Emma is a very good coach who loves football. She has done so much for women’s football and hopefully she will continue this work to grow women’s football for a long period of time. She and all our coaches work together and are very focused. They work hard every day to make us better as a team and pushing us to achieve and to get better all the time.”
Above: Jonna Andersson (far right) is looking to celebrate regularly for Chelsea this season. Photo: @JAndersson25
As the Swede highlighted earlier, Chelsea have brought in a large number of big name players, particularly over the past twelve months: “I think everyone has been settling in very well. They came into a very good group so hopefully they have felt very welcome from the start and hopefully that made it easier to feel like home. It is a squad full of amazing players with top quality so all the new signings have made a huge impact in training and games so that’s amazing and with all the new signings the squad is even bigger and more competitive than before.”
The standards that Chelsea set themselves are sky-high, and therefore it should not be a surprise that their expectations are equally as high: “A good season for us this season is of course to win all the titles we are playing for. That’s what we want. We want to play a football with high quality but in the end of the day we want to fight for all the trophies and bring them to Chelsea.”
Jonna is clear that she wants to develop herself as a player and provide even more influence on both her club and country team over the coming years: “Hopefully I can continue develop as a player. I want to be even better both attacking and defending. Hopefully I will win a few more trophies with Chelsea and have played a few more tournaments with the national team. There’s the Olympics and Euros to fight for in the coming years so hopefully I can be a part of these big tournaments.”
